Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-02-17

II know it is the fashion, but II IL an
absurd fashion"
"Nct any more absurd than your dude
cape oyercoa.. / notice that you are
very fond Of walking down the aisle of
the theater in that English coat Of yours,
and you do it for style, don't your
blushed had been found out.
Not at all / answered. But even if
! did there is no analogy between
three-story hat and cape overcoat on
small man"
zone is as Offensive as the other. The
men who are out of the style comment on
you; women who are out of the style will
comment on me. There's all the differ
ence.n
But the high hat is a nuisance" in
sisted. at is an annoyance and it is GO
ing 10 get me into trouble. Remember
what | tell you, Mary Jane, that if you
persist in wearing that high hat it will
come near being the death of me-
She only laughed, and the rest Of the
conversation on the subject became too
personal for the public's ear. When /
bade her goodbye it was W tn a heavy
heart, and the parting kiss she gave me
in the doorway was mixed with so
much bitterness that / found myself actu-
ally trying TO rub it off the ends of my
moustaohe.
Mary Jane purchased her high hat. It
was one Of the highest hats this market
could afford. l wasn't introduced to it
until / called to take her TO the theatre
one night to see Edwin Booth in Ham
Lett
Its tremendous height appalled, me.
"a a. t,yIu "a nj
rck's day we're mere toy hats compared
with it. II seemed to be fully two feet
from brim to crown, and it was wide at
both ends and as narrow as wasp-waist-
ed woman in tho middle |. in advance,
estimated my crime in taking that hat
into the parquet of the Olympic theater
at murder in the first degree Mary
James smile disarmed me though, as she
shOue from under the millinery monu-
ment, and / took her arm and led her
through all the dark streets | knew en-
route to the theater. All the while spec
ter stalked beside me and kept reminding
me;
THAT high hat is going to get you into
trouble"
| knew the specter very well. II was
my sensitiveness, and il chung to me clos.
or than a mole TO the left ear of a society
belle.
Our seats were in the parquet G, and
3, left-beinR seats Nos. l and 3, in row
g., on the left side of the theater. When
Mary Jane sailed down the aisle | imag
iued that every eye was riveted on the
high hat and every tongue was merciless
~ flashing it. Once or twice ! thought /
detected a word or two of ridiculo thru
was aimed at it, As she took her seat in
chair N. 8 [ was sure / heard the young
blonde gentleman, with short hair and
waxed mustache, who sat behind, say that
Mary James hat was "lollah,' and be-
fore we were ten minutes in the place my
quick suspecting ear detected the blonde
gentleman saying to the dOughfac
lady who sat beside him that he was will
ing Ca pay another dollar for admission
to that part OF the house that was parti-
toned off by Mary James millinery. The
curtain went up, but ! couldn't enjoy the
play. | listened for remarks in the rear
about the high hat and | strained my
eyes trying to catch all the contentious
of the blonde young mans dough-faced
girl, as she lodged from side TO side in
response TO this changes of position af-
footed by Mary James hat. There were
several well developed grunts of dissHtis-
faction and "Oh dear mes but nothing
more except the agony introduced dur
ing tho first act,
In the interval between that and the
second act .ho couple behind US discuss
cd tina nigh hat question very loudly and
very thoroughly.
ITS downright shame" said the
dough-faoed lady, who wore a last years
bonnet on the back of her head.
81 won't take such a hat TO prize
fight said the young man.
Other meant-to.be pleasantries were eI-
changed by Mr., Blonde and Miss Dough
face dntil fairly writhed in my chair
An appeal TO Mary Jane would avail
nothing. She would simply glory in
the annoyance she was causing the lady
bohind her; she could not do otherwise
being n woman. At one moment | had
almost reooncled myself To She hat and
the position in which l was placed; the
couple were so persistent AID demonstra-
tive in their comments that | began to be
glad that they were suffering a little, and
It was while | was in this frame of minis
that the curtain went up on the second
act
The evening passed agoni2ingly until
in the interval between the fourth and
/ last acts heard the blonde young man
say something about putting lightning
rcd on it and calling 1t a shot tower. 1
CLEANED with rage, the roots of my hair
and the mattresses of my ears were on
/ fire; | could feel my brain dancing. 1
pulled my card case from my pocket and
selected one of the best pastebosrd rec
tauges. Turning sfercely on the blonde
young man, l said:
Sir, have suffered your taunts and in
suits a.! evening hero's my card"
The Young man was SO completely tax
es 10y surprise that astonishment was ex-
pressed in evary feature of his face Mary
/ Jane turned TO protest. Miss Dough face
was dumfouuded.
II don't want your card, was the
blonde gentleman s reply.
Then sir, l demand yours
"What forg'
~ shall have friend 20 wait upon
You
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